Inflatable life preserver



Oct. 3, 1961 H. J. MORAN INFLATABLE LIFE PRESERVER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 18, 1957 INVENTQR 541mm J MMAA Oct. 3, 1961 H. J. MORAN 3,002,203

INFLATABLE LIFE PRESERVER Filed Nov. 18, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR 3,002,203 MLATABLE LH E PRESERVER Harold J. Moran, Trenton, N.J., assignor to Switlilr Parachute Company, line, Trenton, NJ. Filed Nov. 18, 1957, Ser'. No. 697,252 2 Claims. (Cl. 9--338) The present invention relates to life preservers and more particularly to an inflatable vest adapted to surround the neck and overlie the front of the body of the wearer.

It has heretofore been proposed to provide life vests having an opening therein to adapt them to be applied over the head. The openings in the vests provide a citrcular portion that surrounds the neck of the wearer and a rectangular portion depending from the neck portion over the chest and front of the body. In such vests as previously proposed, a plurality of superimposed cells are stitched to each other at their inner edges around the neck opening and form a marginal fin of the cell material projecting inwardly from the stitched seam. The rough edge of the marginal fin bears against and is apt to chafe the neck of the wearer either when deflated or inflated. When such vests are inflated, the cells expand away from each other about their connected inner edges and exert pressure against the back of the head which tends to move the head forwardly. After a period of time, the forward position of the head, the pressure applied to the back thereof and the chafing of the rough edges of the cell fins on the neck may become extremely uncomfortable to the wearer.

Life vests incorporating the present invention have the inner edges of the cells so connected to a neck band as to at all times provide a smooth continuous surface engaging the neck. Another band is connected to the outer peripheries of the cell at the rear of the head to restrain the expansion of the cells away from each other to prevent the neck portion of the vest from exerting pressure on the back of the head and neck of the wearer. When the vest is inflated the inner neck band is pulled taut and is so connected to the cells as to shape the continuous surface to conform generally to the contour of the back of the neck and head.

Therefore, one of the objects of the present invention is to provide a life vest of the type indicated which may be worn with greater comfort over long periods of time than life vests previously used.

Another object is to provide a life Vest of the type indicated in which the connected edges of the cells at the inner periphery of the vest do not rub or chafe the neck of the wearer.

Another object is to provide a life vest of the type indicated in which the expansion of the separate cells at the back of the neck and head is restricted to prevent the upper cell from exerting undue pressure on the head and neck.

Still another object is to provide a life vest of the type indicated which adds to the comfort of the wearer without materially increasing the cost of manufacture.

These and other objects will become more apparent from the following description and drawings in which like reference characters denote like parts throughout the several views. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration only and are not a definition of the limits of the invention, reference being had for this purpose to the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of a life vest incorporating the novel features of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the life vest when inflated and showing the connecting hand between Patented Oct. 3, 1961 the cells at the outer periphery of the neck portion to restrain expansion;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the inflated life vest to show the relatively flat contour of the neck portion at the rear of the head of the wearer;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken on line 4-4 of FIGURE 3 to show the neck band connecting the separate cells at their inner peripheries to provide a smooth, continuous and generally inclined surface; and

FIGURE 5 is a side elevational view of the inflated life vest applied to a person in the water and showing how the neck portion conforms to the natural contour of the neck and head.

Referring now to the drawings wherein a life vest 10 is illustrated having a generally rounded neck portion 12 and a rectangular body portion 13 depending therefrom. The vest It) is provided with an opening 11 at the center of the rounded neck portion 12 to adapt the vest to be applied over the head of the wearer. The annular neck portion 12 around opening 11 is adapted to surround the neck and the depending body portion 13 is adapted to overlie the chest and front of the wearer.

As shown'in FIGURES 2 to 5, the vest 10 comprises separate superimposed cells 14 and 15 attached to each other in a manner later to be explained in detail. Cells 14 and 15 are made of a thin, flexible, impervious and lightweight material, such as nylon fabric impregnated with a natural or synthetic polymer such as rubber. Each cell 14 and 15 is made from pieces of the fabric cut to the shape of the vest with material cut from the center of each piece to form the opening 11. In the illustrated embodiment, the pieces of fabric also are cut from the opening 11 to their lower edge along a central line 16. A pair of the pre-cut pieces of the fabric are then arranged in superimposed layers and the edges of the layers are bonded to each other with a suitable cement around the entire inner and outer periphery to form a sealed bag. The bonded edges of the separate cells 14 and 15 then form outwardly projecting flanges or fins 17 and 18. Portions of the flanges 17 and 18 of the cells 14 and 15 are connected to each other to form the life vest.

When the life vest 10 is deflated the separate cells 14 and 15 overlie each other and have a total thickness and weight corresponding to the thickness and weight of the four layers of thin nylon fabric. Quick detachable snap fasteners 19 are provided on the overlying flanges 17 and 18 of the cells at their outer periphery to temporarily attach the outer edges of the cells. Thus, the life vest 10 is adapted to conform to the shape of the body without interfering in any way with the normal movement of the arms and body.

Vest 10 also includes conventional inflating mechanism including cylinders 20 and 21 containing gas at high pressure and connected to the respective cells 14 and 15. The cylinders 20 and 21 are contained in pockets 22 and 23 on the adjacent walls of cells 14 and 15. Thus, the pockets 22 and 23 are located between the superimposed cells 14 and 15 and at opposite sides of the vest. Each cylinder 20 and 21 has a valve mechanism 24 adapted to be actuated by a lanyard 25 for releasing the gas stored in the cylinder and delivering it directly into the cell 14 or 15 to which it is attached. A tube 26 also may be attached to each cell 14 and 15 for blowing air into the cells or releasing gas therefrom and the tubes also are located between the cells. Each tube 26 has a valve 27 for controlling the delivery of gas to or the release of gas from its cell. As thus far described, the life belt is generally similar to those previously proposed.

In accordance with the present invention the cells 14 and 15 are so connected at the neck portion 12 of the vest 10 as to provide a smooth continuous surface which conforms to the natural contour of the head and neck of the wearer. To this end, the separate cells 14 and 15 are connected to each other by bands 36 and 31 at the inner and outer peripheries of the neck portion Ill of vest 10. The inner neck band 39 may be composed of any suitable material such as a fabric web and is attached to the flanges l7 and 18 of the cells 14 and 15 around the entire periphery of opening 11 as by stitching it thereto. As illustrated in FIGURE 4, the edges of the band 30 and flanges 1'7 and 18 are so stitched that only the seam is exposed at the neck opening and the edges of the band and flanges are positioned at the rear of the band. Band 31 also is connected to the flanges 17 and 18 at the outer periphery of the neck portions 12 of the cells as by stitching. Band 31 extends only for a short distance along the outer peripheries of the cells corresponding to the length of the neck portion 12 engaged by the head.

As will be observed by reference to FIGURE 4, the opposite edge portions of inner neck band 38 are reversed and are stitched to the flanges 17 and 18 intermediate the inner and outer edges of the flanges. When the cells 14 and 15 are inflated they tend to expand away from each other which pulls neck band 30 taut, and outwardly away from opening 11 which pulls the flanges 1'7 and 18 taut between the neck band and cells so as to provide a gradually upwardly and outwardly inclined bridge between the band and inflated portions of the cells. The expansion or" cells 14 and 15 is restrained by the neck band 30 to produce a gradual outwardly rounded contour from the flanges 17 and 18 which conforms to the general contour of the back of the neck and head of the wearer. Furthermore, the outer band 31 restrains the expansion of the cells 14 and 15 at the neck portion 12 of the vest it so that they will not tilt the head of the wearer forwardly or apply undue pressure on the back of the head.

The lower portions of the adjacent edges of the cells 14 and i at opposite sides of center line 16 also are connected to each other by a strap 32. Strap 52 overlies the superimposed flanges 17 and 18 of the separate cells 14 and 15 and is stitched thereto on opposite sides of the center line 16. Thus, it will be observed that the cells 14 and 15 of the body portion 13 of the vest are adapted to expand away from each other around the center line 16 when inflated to buoy up the head of the wearer except at the back of the head and neck portion where the expansion of the cells is limited by the inner and outer bands 36 and 31.

The life vest 10 is attached to the body by a harness comprising the strap 32 attached to the center of the vest and a strap 33 attached to the center of the band 31 at the outer periphery of the neck portion 12. Strap 33 has its opposite end attached to the rear of a belt 34 adapted to be buckled around the waist, see FIGURE 5.

The life vest 10 in deflated condition is applied to the wearer by inserting the head through the opening 11. The generally circular portion 12 then surrounds the neck and the body portion 13 overlies the chest and front of the wearer. Vest Ill is then positively secured to the body by conn'ecting belt 34 around the waist by means of a buckle 37 and connecting D-ring 35 at the depending end of the strap 32 to the snaphook 36. As the vest 10 is composed of four layers of thin flexible, lightweight material, it readily conforms to the contour of the body and does not interfere with the normal movements of the arms and body nor add appreciably to the bulk of the clothing.

When an emergency arises, as when the wearer of vest 10 falls from a plane or boat into the water, the lanyards 25 are pulled to release the gas from the cylinders 26 and 21 which flows directly into the gas-tight cells 14 and 15. As the high pressure gas expands to atmospheric pressure it inflates the cells l and in the manner illustrated in FIGURES 2 to 5. Immediately upon expansion of the cells 14 and t5, the snap fasteners 19 release the outer peripheral edges of the cells. Cells 14 and 15 then expand away from each other as illustrated in FIGURES 3 and 5 around the front of the neck and under the chin of the wearer to maintain his head above water even if unconscious.

However, the band 31 restricts the expansion of the neck portion 12 of the vest 10 at the rear of the head of the wearer to prevent the application of excessive pressure on the back of the head. The inner neck band 36 operating in conjunction with the outer band 31 also acts to restrain the expansion of the cell 14 or 15 at the rear of the head to provide a flattened gradually rounded contour as illustrated in FIGURES 3 and 4. Furthermore, the expanding cells 14 and 15 pull the neck band 30 and connected flanges 17 and 18 taut to provide a smooth continuous surface engaged by the head and shapes the back of the neck portion 12 of vest 10 to conform to the natural contour of the neck and head of the wearer. Thus, the life vest it] may be worn for long periods of time while immersed in the water without chafing the neck, applying pressure to the back of the head or tilting the head forwardly in an unnatural position. In other Words, the life vest of the present invention provides all of the life saving features of vests as previously proposed while adding materially to the comfort of the wearer.

It will now be observed that the present invention provides a life vest which supports the head of the wearer above the water with greater comfort over long periods of time than the life vests previously proposed. It will further be observed that the present invention provides a construction to prevent the cells from applying excessive pressure against the back of the head. It will still further be observed that the invention provides a life vest which materially adds to the comfort of the wearer Without increasing the cost of manufacture.

While a single embodiment of the invention is herein illustrated and described it will be understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of elements without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Therefore, without limitation in this respect, the invention is defined by the following claims.

I claim:

1. A life preserver in the form of a vest comprising a plurality of gas cells having central openings to provide a neck portion shaped to fit around the neck of the wearer and a body portion depending from the neck portion to overlie the front of the body of the wearer, each of said cells comprising superimposed layers of a flexible impervious material having the adjacent faces at their edges sealed to each other to provide a continuous marginal fin extending around its inner and outer edges, means for supplying gas to inflate the cells, the plurality of cells being arranged in superimposed relationship, a neck band of flexible material extending around the central opening and attached adjacent its opposite edges to the marginal fins of the plurality of cells around substantially the entire central opening to control the expansion of the inner edges of the cells, a second restraining band of flexible material attached adjacent its opposite edges to the marginal fins at the outer periphery of the cells to control the expansion of the cells at the outer edges, the opposite edge portions of said neck band being reversed to overlie the fins around the central opening and stitched intermediate the inner and outer edges of the fins so that the edges of both the band and fins project rearwardly from the surfaces contacting the neck and head of the wearer whereby to provide a smooth continuous outside surface inclined from the band to the inflated cells, and a harness for attaching the life preserver to the body comprising a belt for attachment around the waist, a strap connected between the second restraining band at the outer periphery of the cells and belt, and a strap connecting the lower end of the body portion of the life preserver to the belt.

2. A life preserver in the form of a vest comprising a plurality of gas cells having central openings to provide a neck portion shaped to fit around the neck of the wearer and a body portion depending from the neck portion to overlie the front of the body of the wearer, each of said cells comprising superimposed layers of a flexible impervious material having the adjacent faces at their edges sealed to each other to provide a continuous marginal fin extending around its inner and outer edges, means for supplying gas to inflate the cells, the plurality of cells being arranged in superimposed relationship, a neck band of flexible material and of substantial width extending around the central opening with its opposite edges overlying and attached to the marginal fins of adjacent cells around substantially the entire central opening to provide a smooth and substantially flat web adapted to conform 6 comfortably to the neck of the wearer and to control the expansion of the inner edges of the cells, restraining band means attached adjacent the outer edges of the marginal fins at the outer periphery of the cells to control the expansion of the cells at the outer edges, and a harness for attaching the life preserver to the body comprising a strap connected to the portion overlying the front of the body, a strap connected to the rear of the neck portion of said preserver, and means connecting 10 the opposite ends of the straps to the body of the wearer.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Boyle Dec. 16, 1952 2,886,835 Moran May 19, 1959 

